CAPITAL MARKETS

Barrick flags lower copper price

Barrick Gold (CN:ABX) flagged a lower realised copper price for the first quarter as it released its preliminary March production results.

Staff reporter
Barrick’s Lumwana copper mine

Barrick’s Lumwana copper mine

The gold major produced 85 million pounds of copper for the quarter, which had an average market price of US$3.16 per pound.

"The company's first quarter realised copper price is expected to be approximately 5% below the average first quarter market price for copper, as a result of provisional pricing adjustments that reflect the downward trend in copper prices over the period," the company said.

It produced 1.05 million ounces of gold and sold 1.07Moz in the quarter, according to the preliminary figures, with an average market price at $1,329/oz for the quarter.  

This compares with 1.34Moz of gold and 99Mlb of copper produced in the fourth quarter.

The company has put 2018 guidance at 4.5-5Moz of gold and 385-450Mlb of copper and is likely to lose its title of world's biggest gold producer to Newmont Mining (US:NEM) this year.

Barrick's 2018 outlook is up to a 15% drop on the previous year's production and sits mainly below Newmont's forecast 4.9-5.4Moz.

Barrick will release its full quarterly results on April 23.

Shares in the company have recovered from last month's 52-week low of C$14.26 and closed up 2.24% yesterday to $16.45, but remain down more than 9.5% year-to-date.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.